title: Skin contraction following erbium:YAG laser resurfacing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resurfacing the skin with deep chemical peels, dermabrasion, or lasers tightens the skin via dermal remodeling. The erbium (Er):YAG laser is a new laser for resurfacing and it removes lesional tissue efficiently with minimal residual thermal damage. In this paper, I present the first published study, to my knowledge, documenting and quantifying the cutaneous contraction following Er:YAG laser resurfacing of human skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document and measure the cutaneous contraction resulting from Er:YAG laser resurfacing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using lentigos as skin markers, square areas on human forearm skin were resurfaced with the Er:YAG laser. The distance between these skin markers was measured before, immediately after, at 3 days, and weekly for 16 weeks after laser surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After two to three passes with the Er:YAG laser, there was an immediate 4% linear tightening of the skin, which persisted at 3 days, increased to 8% at 1 weeks, was 11% at 2 and 4 weeks, 13% at 6 weeks, and 14% at 16 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Er:YAG laser resurfacing produces measurable cutaneous contraction. This phenomenon may contribute to the positive clinical tightening of human skin following Er:YAG laser resurfacing.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena